PHYSICAL EDUCATION KINEMATIC MOTOR SKILLS TESTING SYSTEM

• US 20190046836A1
• Filed: 08/14/2017
• Published: 02/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AssessLink LLC
• Original Assignee: AssessLink LLC
• Inventors: Starkey, Jonathan Bradford
• Granted Patent: US 10,695,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0075 Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/50 Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system for testing motor skills involved in locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative activities. The system utilizes joint data created by a motion sensor during a subject'"'"'s performance of an activity to determine the subject'"'"'s motor skill proficiency for that activity. The system compares the subject'"'"'s joint data to benchmark data to detect one or more phases of the activity. Based on the comparison, the system also determines the subject'"'"'s proficiency in the particular motor skill tested. The system is embodied in a computer-implemented application that provides various user interfaces for navigating through the user interfaces, accessing a database of the system, testing a subject'"'"'s motor skills, analyzing a subject'"'"'s proficiency, and facilitating practice of motor skills.

Claims

1. A computer program product encoded on one or more non-transitory computer storage media, the computer program product comprising instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving motion sensor data from a motion sensor communicatively coupled to the computing device, wherein the motion sensor is adapted to generate motion sensor data associated with a subject performing a motor skill activity;

comparing motion sensor data to benchmark data to;

determine one or more temporal phases of the motor skill activity and determine a score representing a proficiency of the subject for performing the motor skill activity.

2. A computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor data comprises body-joint data associated with the position and/or orientation of one or more body parts of the subject.

3. A computer program product according to claim 2, wherein the one or more body parts are selected from the group consisting of:

spine, hips, shoulder center, shoulders, neck, elbows, wrists, hands, hand tips, thumbs, knees, ankles, feet, head, and eye sockets.

4. A computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the benchmark data comprise biomechanically advantageous joint orientation values or ranges for one or more body parts for each of the temporal phases.

5. A computer program product according to claim 1, wherein each of the temporal phases comprises a start time and an end time.

6. A computer program product according to claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying an interface to a user of the computing device providing an ability to modify the start time or the end time of any temporal phase.

7. A computer program product according to claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the benchmark data comprise one or more orientation markers;

wherein for each temporal phase of the motor skill activity, the orientation marker(s) comprise a start time orientation marker and an end time orientation marker, and

wherein the step of determining the one or more temporal phases involves identifying, in the motion sensor data, the start time orientation marker and the end time orientation marker of each temporal phase of the motor skill activity.

8. A computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying, through a display screen of the computing device, an interactive practice interface comprising one or more of the group consisting of;

a video preview of the motion sensor showing the subject performing the motor skill activity in real or near-real time, a video preview of an ideal performance of the motor skill activity, and one or more alerts indicating a discrepancy between the motion sensor data and the benchmark data.

9. A computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensor data and the benchmark data comprise position and/or orientation data for physical education activities, physical therapy activities, sports activities, or physiological research activities.

10. A computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the step of comparing motion sensor data to benchmark data involves comparing the motion sensor data to a predetermined model, wherein the predetermined model indicates when each temporal phase begins and ends based on one or more joint orientation markers associated with the performed motor skill activity.

11. A system, comprising:

a computing device having a processor and one or more non-transitory computer storage media;

one or more motion sensors communicatively coupled to the computing device,

wherein the one or more motion sensors are adapted to generate motion sensor data associated with a subject performing a motor skill activity;

wherein the one or more non-transitory computer storage media store instructions therein that when executed by the processor of the computing device cause the computing device to perform operations comprising;

receive motion sensor data from the motion sensor; and

compare motion sensor data to benchmark data to determine one or more temporal phases of the motor skill activity and determine a score representing a proficiency of the subject for performing the motor skill activity.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the motion sensor data comprises body-joint data associated with the position and/or orientation of one or more body parts of the subject.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the one or more body parts are selected from the group consisting of:

spine, hips, shoulder center, shoulders, neck, elbows, wrists, hands, hand tips, thumbs, knees, ankles, feet, head, and eye sockets.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the benchmark data comprise biomechanically advantageous joint orientation values or ranges for one or more body parts for each of the temporal phases.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein each of the temporal phases comprises a start time and an end time.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying an interface to a user of the computing device providing an ability to modify the start time or the end time of any temporal phase.

17. A system according to claim 11, further comprising:

wherein the benchmark data comprise one or more orientation markers;

wherein for each temporal phase of the motor skill activity, the orientation marker(s) comprise a start time orientation marker and an end time orientation marker, and

wherein the step of determining the one or more temporal phases involves identifying, in the motion sensor data, the start time orientation marker and the end time orientation marker of each temporal phase of the motor skill activity.

18. A system according to claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying, through a display screen of the computing device, an interactive practice interface comprising one or more of the group consisting of;

a video preview of the one or more motion sensors showing the subject performing the motor skill activity in real or near-real time, a video preview of an ideal performance of the motor skill activity, and one or more alerts indicating a discrepancy between the motion sensor data and the benchmark data.

19. A system according to claim 11, wherein the motion sensor data and the benchmark data comprise position and/or orientation data for physical education activities, physical therapy activities, sports activities, or physiological research activities.

20. A system according to claim 11, wherein the step of comparing motion sensor data to benchmark data involves comparing the motion sensor data to a predetermined model, wherein the predetermined model indicates when each temporal phase begins and ends based on one or more joint orientation markers associated with the performed motor skill activity.